Crappie are one of the most popular freshwater fish to catch because they are so abundant and they taste great. There are 2 types of crappies: black and white. Black and white crappie share most of the same waters, however, black crappie are most abundant in northern lakes that are cool with a gravel or sand bottom. White crappie are common in reservoirs, lakes, and rivers. They tolerate darker water than black crappie and they thrive in southern lakes with soft or hard bottoms. Both species live in rivers and streams, however, black crappie prefer calmer water and they also tolerate a higher salt content, which is why they are common in estuaries.
How to Catch Crappie
Most anglers prefer to fish for crappie during the spring when they move into the shallows to spawn. Crappie can be very easy to catch during the spawn. They will be found in the back of bays, coves, creeks and along shorelines that have a variety of cover. Crappie prefer timber and brush, but you will find them around rocks and weeds if they are available. Once the spawn is done, crappie will spend most of their time in deeper water. You can catch them off of drop-offs, along deep weed edges, on deep water brush piles, mid-lake humps and points that have some deeper water. Crappie are also known for roaming the open water and they will often suspend over very deep water. Small jigs, jigging spoons, small spinners and live minnows are the most common baits to use for crappie.
Crappie Fishing Tips & Techniques
- Crappie Fishing Basics
- Fishing Lures for Crappie
- Fishing Rigs for Crappie
- Live Baits for Crappie
- View all Crappie Fishing Tips & Techniques
Eating Crappie
Crappie are one of the best freshwater fish to eat. Most people will fillet, batter and fry them in oil.
Plan a Crappie Fishing Vacation
There are so many places to plan a fishing trip to catch crappie. Most fishermen will plan fishing trips for other species of fish and crappie are just an added bonus if they stumple upon them. For those of you that are looking to plan a fishing vacation to specifically target crappie, there are quite a few destinations that stand out. Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, Rainy Lake and Lake of the Woods offer some world-class crappie fishing. Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley are known more for their outstanding spring fishing during the spawn, while Rainy Lake and Lake of the Woods offer some great action for schooling crappie during the fall months.